The Wild West of online political advertising needs transparency tools ahead of the election

With the 2024 U.S. presidential election in full swing, this digital frontier poses an unprecedented threat to the integrity of American democracy.

Think back to the last time you scrolled through your social media feed and encountered a political ad that perfectly aligned with your views—or perhaps one that outraged you. Could you tell if it was from a legitimate campaign, a shadowy political action committee, or even a foreign entity? Could you discern who paid for the ad? Chances are you couldn’t.